PREFACE. 275 thodox, makes the difference between the Father, the Word, and theSpirit, to consist in mere internal relative properties. This is the termwhich is ge- nerally used to describe their distinct personality : Whereas the present scheme which I offer, supposes the Word and Spirit tobe analogous to real distinct powers in the divine nature. Now a real distinction is something greater than that which:. is merely relative. I hope therefore, that thoseTrinitarians at least, who give theirassent to the common orthodox scheme; will have no reason to charge mewith making a less distinction between the divine per- sons than theydo. Objection II. Some persons, who pay a very great respect to the primi- tive christian fathers, may blame me, perhaps, for those parts of the fourth dissertation,.wherein I allow so many of the inferior and diminutive expres- sions of those ancients concerning the "Logos," to be construed in their own proper literal sense,-and apply them to the human soul of Christ in its pre- existentstate. - Answer. Let it be observed in the firstplace that I have every where al- lowed the greatest,the brightest, and the strongest expressionsofthe ancients, concerning the trueand proper godhead of our Saviour, to be construed ac- cording to -heir proper and genuine sublime ideas. I reverence the name and memory of Bishop Bull, and Bishop Pearson, whose excellent writings have effectually proved, that those primitivefathers did generally believethe true and eternal deity of Christ. And I pay all due honours to the learned labours of the reverend Doctor Waterland, and Doctor Knight, whohave supported the same cause, and have givenmeanoccasion to review the wri- ters of the most early ages of christianity, whereby I have had the pleasure tofind such a number ofcitations applied in this controversy with great justice; and it must be confessed, that theyhave so far exhausted this subject, that I could meet with very few expressions of importanceon this theme, in those ancients which I consulted, which had not been cited in some of their writ- ings, or the writings of their learned 'antagonists. I have therefore struck out many of the citations that I had made, both relating to the divinity, and to the inferior nature of Christ, that I might not too largely repeat what had been done before : And would rather remit the reader to those wor- thy authors who have plentifully given us the various expressions oft the fathers in this controversy, I thankfullyacknowledge the profit I have received from the labours of those who with so much skill and learning have defended the common tirith : And heartily declare my agreement with them, that the doctrine of the godhead of Christ, was asserted and maintained by the fathers of the christian church. Yet with all due deference t6 their superior worth, I humbly -take leave to answerthe objections which the moderndisbelievers of his propergodhead have derived fi-orn the fathers, in another manner, than most * of thesewriters bave done. Their arguments for the deity-ofChrist, are in my opinion, strong and conclusive ; but surely it may be lawful to attempt the relief of difficulties in another way and manner, since their - opponents have ever denied their solution of them to have been satisfactory. While we all agree to support the same doctrine of the deity of our blessed Lord, I think every man may be also permitted, without offence, to solve the objections that are brought against this do@trine, in such a various man- ner as is mostsuited to our different apprehensions of things ; and by such a variety of solutions the doctrine itself; perhaps, may be better guarded * I say, most of these writers ; far I know not any of themwho has laid a foundation for the answer of these difficulties in the same manner as I have done, except the reverend author of the " Considerations ou Mr. Whiston's His- torical Preface," in his first and second lettere to the author of the " History of Montaaismr" whose expressions on this subject, in several parts of those let-. tern I have here cited, in proper places, with all due respect, s2
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=